India likely to clash with Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad

Don't be surprised if India and Sri Lanka clash in the second quarter-final match at Ahmedabad on March 24.

MiD DAY has learnt that the cricket community in Sri Lanka is saddened at the news that it will have to forego home advantage, if it does indeed clash against the Indians.

As per the schedule, the quarter-final matches are as follow: A1 v B4 (Mirpur), A2 v B3 (Ahmedabad), A3 v B2 (Mirpur) and A4 v B1 (Colombo).

India will play at Ahmedabad irrespective of which position it stands in Group B at the end of the league stages.

Ahead of the World Cup, the International Cricket Council confirmed that host nations India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play their knockout matches at home.

However, if two host nations face each other, the side placed higher in the pre-tournament seeding will get preference, which means India will play all its knock-out ties on home soil if they get past the preliminary stage.

This ruling has angered a former Sri Lanka captain, who reckons that the 1996 champions should be allowed to play at home irrespective of where they finish in Group A.

"This is just another example of ICC giving India whatever they want. Sri Lanka are the runners-up of the World Cup, we should be given some sort of an advantage in this situation. If we do play against India in the quarterfinal, why not have the match in Colombo? I don't know how SLC agreed to this rule," he told MiD DAY.

"What if Sri Lanka topped their group ufffd and India finished last in theirs? Even in that scenario, India will get home advantage. That is why this rule doesn't make sense," added the former SL skipper.u00a0

Nishanta Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), said that it was unfortunate for Sri Lanka to sacrifice home advantage.

"I am sure the Sri Lankan supporters would love to see their side play at home, but the decision was taken by ICC before the tournament started, and the SLC has not opposed it. We are pleased with the way the program has been arranged, it was approved at the CEC (Chief Executives' Committee) level, and we cannot oppose it," he told MiD DAY.

"We understand that the ICC has to face difficulties in satisfying all the host nations. The CEC made it clear that the higher-ranked nation (in the ODI rankings) will get advantage in such a scenario. The team will be striving it's best to try and avoid playing India in the quarterfinal, to retain home advantage," added Ranatunga.